Mountain Bike Forks - Air v Coil

When you take riding seriously, the types of forks that you use on your bike can make all the difference in the world for the comfort, function, and reliability of your ride. The purpose of suspension forks is to buffer the wheels movement when hitting bumps, so the wheel will give way without the entire bike moving, creating a bumpy, uncomfortable, and exhausting ride for the rider. The prevention from the jarring effect of bumps also helps protect the integrity of the bike, keeping the need for maintenance lower.

When opting to get new forks for your bicycle, you have two main choices to compare and consider air-sprung and coil-sprung forks.

An air-spring fork is the Read more

Mountain Bike Buying Guide - Part One

In this series of articles we will be looking at how to buy a mountain bike.  As with many things in life it is not simply a question of making the decision to buy, but rather, having a clear set of goals and objectives before starting to shop.

For this reason you are best served by buying a couple of months worth of mountain bike magazines so that you are familiar with the type of riding, different styles of bikes, pricing points, materials used etc.  But more of that later.

Lets begin by taking a look at: Read more

Best Mountain Bike Upgrade?

Sometimes a short sweet article can make a big difference and that is what I hope you get from todays. Many people often ask what is the best upgrade they can make to their mountain bike?

Before we answer that question lets look at upgrades in general. If you have an entry level bike it can seem tempting to take the path of upgrading components as and when affordable. This is not necessarily an ideal route.

The technological advances in mountain bike production show no signs of slowing down and it is likely you would get more for your money and a better balanced bike by changing models every 2-3 years rather than upgrading components on a regular basis.

That said, without a doubt, the best upgrade that can be made is, wait for it, the wheels. By treating yourself to a new lighter set of wheels not only are weight savings made, but, your ride will feel much more direct and efficient.

It is also worth noting that the weight saved is worth double the saving on a lighter frame!

If you want to continue down the upgrade path then the most noticeable improvements will come from replacing the saddle, seat post, stem and bar.

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Kona to Sponsor Bike Orienteering Series in UK

If you happen to be living in the UK you may be very interested to learn that Kona is to sponsor a new series of Coastal Trail Quest events for avid mountain bikers.

Also known as bike orienteering the seven event series takes place against a backdrop of some of the UKs most stunning coastline.

There will be two races per event of 3 or 5 hour duration and you can enter as either a solo rider or a pair.

At GOS we think this is a hugely exciting development and with venues to include the Gower, Portland, South Devon, Pembrokeshire, Dorset, West Cornwall and Exmoor riders get an exceptional opportunity to enjoy the best that Britain has to offer.

Withn each event there are several categories providing participants to compete against others of a simiar age and newcomers to the sport are also being welcomed.

The only catch?  Each event is limited to just 200 places so early booking is recommended.  The series runs from November to May and you can find more information by visiting the endurancelife website.

Top 2009 Mountain Bikes

ith every passing year mountain bikes get better and better.  If anything the pace of change has actually accelerated which, given that I thought things couldn't get any better, is truly astonishing.  Not so many years ago a new mountain bike would last for several seasons.  Nowadays pretty much every manufacture brings out a new range annually and heaven help those that only change the color of the paint and give the model a new name.  They soon get found out and eclipsed by the competition.

So what is 2009 promising to bring a along?  Well, for starters, more models than we could ever hope to list in this article but a bit of research has brought to our attention some stellar models that will likely have you reaching for your credit card, credit crunch or not.  Heck, life's too short not to take advantage of these new machines.

So lets take a brief look at the all new:

• Gary Fisher Roscoe
• Kona Dawg
• Trek Fule EX
• Specialized Epic S-Works

	The new 2009 Gary Fisher Roscoe is a good looking bike weighing in at 27lbs.   There are 3 models in the series with prices likely to range from $3000- $5000 so you can expect a high spec and high performance.  Early indications are that is one of the best Fisher bikes to date.  A joy to ride and a good all rounder.
The new 2009 Kona Dawg has been boosted to provide it with an extra inch of travel and will therefore be suited to the more aggressive trail rider.  It will be a four model range with the range topper sporting an XT drivechain, a Fox RP23 Shock and Fox Float RL 140mm forks with a 15mm QR thru axle.  Nice!  No prices yet.
	The highlight of the new 2009 range from Trek looks likely to be the Fuel EX Carbon.  This is a 21lb bike so it's going to have a premium price (current rumor is $7500) but you can't help but admire it's superbly crafted looks. The bike comes in quite a few different models so you will be able to get an entry bike in the range for around 50% less according to a couple of the mags I read.  It looks like being an accomplished machine on all types of terrain.
Last but by no means least we have the 2009 Specialized Epic-S Works.  A favorite of mine in terms of its looks at least.  This is the bike that Christoph Sauser used to win the world championship on so it's pedigree is already more than proven.  Need I say more.

Now it's unlikely you will be able to buy these bikes via our store until late next year - this is how you get the best deals.  However, if you're reading this and it is the end of 2009 then you just got a short list of the hottest mountain bikes of the year.  Check out our used mountain bike store to see if you can pick up a bargain.

Don’t Delay Fix It Today

I was reading an article recently in which the rider described an event during which his chain snapped. No big deal as it's happened to all of us. You jump off the bike pull out your chain tool remove the link and rejoin the race.

Now there is nothing unusual here but what happens when you get home? All to often it is too easy to delay dealing with the problem, or worse still, forget about the problem altogether. Such was the case in this particular story. A couple of months later, having failed to replace the chain, the rider exits a dip, heads into a rapid short climb and ............... Mangled chain, suspension and gears.

So the moral of the story is a tiny bit of preventative maintenance can go a long long way. It doesn't have to be as dramatic as our story illustrates, but think about your own set up. Do you have any gears not quite clicking into place? Brakes not working at optimum capacity? Worn tires losing traction?

You owe it to yourself to keep your bike in top condition. There is nothing worse than having a day out beset with mechanical problems and/or failures that could easily be avoided by lavishing a bit of care and attention on your trusty ride. Make sure you enjoy each and every trip you take by making a list of maintenance tasks your bike would benefit from and make the commitment to get down to your local dealer to buy spares, lubricants etc. Failing that make sure you get your bike serviced by a professional. In all likelihood you'll be amazed at the difference this will make to your riding experience.

What’s Your Size?

How did you identify that your mountain bike was the right "fit"?  Unless you've visited an official dealer, chances are you have never been measured up to ensure that the bike you are purchasing is right for your size.  I can't tell you how many people I've seen over the years on bikes that are not right for their size.   As ever it isn't just a question of height so how should you ensure that you get a great fitting bike?

Well over the years things have changed.  The development of compact frames with sloping top tubes have changed the game in recent times and the chances are you will need a much smaller frame than you think.

As a rule of thumb you need a minimum of 2-3 inches of stand over frame clearance with your feet flat on the ground.

If you prefer a more upright riding position you should go for the largest frame that still provides appropriate clearance.

If you prefer more aggressive riding and sped a good deal of time off road then you want as small a frame as possible that still allows you to stretch out your legs.  The last thing you need to be is tucked up.

You should also note the reach to the handlebars.  Usually, the better handling the bike the further the reach.  However, for beginners a long stretch can feel quite uncomfortable.  With regular use though this feeling soon passes but the sensation is very different compared with a regular road bike.

Once you've got the size sorted there are a myriad of potential adjustments that can be made.  I came across a great tool over at Cycling News which alloys you to record key measurements.  This is the kind of thing pro mechanics use but it enables you to record your set up and any changes.  You can then go out for a ride notice the differences and revert or stick as appropriate.  As you'll see there is a lot that goes into maximum comfort and performance.  Notice that even the positioning of cleats on a pair of riding shoes is measured.

There are many benefits to choosing an appropriately sized bike.  They are easier to handle, maneuver and power.  You'll also find you can ride further as they more efficiently convert your energy into power and perhaps most importantly they are more comfortable to ride.   As an example, if you regularly experience knee pain when riding chances are it is more than a lack of fitness.